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NORTH BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS and DEERF, 23.10. 2003 11:22
Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging And Fujisawa Healthcare Announce Agreement To Co-Promote Adenoscan®
Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. and Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. today announced that the companies have entered into a co-promotion agreement in the United States for Fujisawa's Adenoscan® (adenosine injection), the leading pharmacologic stress agent used in myocardial perfusion imaging. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging will receive a co-promotion fee based on the increased sales of Adenoscan as outlined under the contract, in effect through 2005.
"As a company, we are dedicated to building upon our leadership role as an innovator in cardiovascular imaging to better meet the needs of patients and physicians," said Cory Zwerling, president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging. "Our strategic partnership with Fujisawa Healthcare helps support our mission by enhancing and extending awareness of Adenoscan, the most widely used coronary vasodilator for myocardial perfusion imaging in the United States."
Launched by Fujisawa in 1995, Adenoscan® (adenosine injection) is used in conjunction with myocardial perfusion imaging -- a noninvasive test that requires adequate dilation of coronary vessels to clinically evaluate patients for coronary artery disease (CAD). Adenoscan produces maximal vasodilation of the coronary arteries in patients who are unable to achieve adequate vasodilation through exercise on a treadmill. The short half-life of Adenoscan is responsible for its short-acting pharmacological effects, making it useful for diagnostic evaluation and risk stratification of CAD.
"Fujisawa has long been committed to cardiology," stated Hideo Fukumoto, chairman and chief executive officer, Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. "Partnering with a respected leader such as Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging will allow us to enhance our presence in the market and increase the awareness of the benefits of Adenoscan among health care professionals, further demonstrating our commitment to the field of cardiology."
Intravenous Adenoscan is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately. Side effects that were seen most often included flushing (44 percent), chest discomfort (40 percent), and dyspnea (28 percent). Side effects usually resolve quickly when infusion is terminated and generally do not interfere with test results. Despite adenosine's short half-life, some of the side effects occurred up to 24 hours after infusion. In many cases, it is not possible to know whether these late adverse events are the result of Adenoscan infusion.
Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary pharmaceutical products in the United States and abroad. Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. is a subsidiary of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, Japan. Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., founded in 1894, is a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer and is actively developing its international operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Additional information on Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and its products can be found on the company's Web site at www.fujisawa.com.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging is a worldwide leader in cardiovascular imaging whose mission is to extend and enhance human life by offering innovative approaches to see deeper into the heart and vasculature. The company's pioneering imaging product line includes Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection), Thallium-201 (Thallous Chloride Tl 201 Injection) and TechneLite® (Technetium Tc99m Generator). Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY), a pharmaceutical and related health care products company. For more information on Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, visit www.bmsmi.com.
Kontaktinformationen:
For more information, contact: Lili Gordon, Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, 978-671-8924, lili.gordon@bms.com; or Maribeth Landwehr, Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., 847-317-8988, maribeth_landwehr@fujisawa.com
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